View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2006 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.co

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

581,877 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

4.739 million (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: modern system in many respects domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking 50 cities international: country code - 57; satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3 fully digitalized international switching centers; 8 submarine cables

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

7,678,800 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

21.85 million (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp

Budget [time series]

revenues: $46.82 billion expenditures: $48.77 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Colombian peso (COP)

Current account balance [time series]

$-1.931 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$32.35 billion (2005 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

53.8 (2005)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Colombia's economy has been on a recovery trend during the past two years despite a serious armed conflict. The economy continues to improve thanks to austere government budgets, focused efforts to reduce public debt levels, an export-oriented growth strategy, and an improved security situation in the country. Ongoing economic problems facing President URIBE range from reforming the pension system to reducing high unemployment. New exploration is needed to offset declining oil production. On the positive side, several international financial institutions have praised the economic reforms introduced by URIBE, which succeeded in reducing the public-sector deficit below 1.5% of GDP. The government's economic policy and democratic security strategy have engendered a growing sense of confidence in the economy, particularly within the business sector. Coffee prices have recovered from previous lows as the Colombian coffee industry pursues greater market shares in developed countries such as the United States.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

48.83 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports [time series]

1.082 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports [time series]

48.4 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - production [time series]

50.43 billion kWh (2003)

Exchange rates [time series]

Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,320.75 (2005), 2,628.61 (2004), 2,877.65 (2003), 2,504.24 (2002), 2,299.63 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$19.3 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers

Exports - partners [time series]

US 41.8%, Venezuela 9.9%, Ecuador 6.3% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$97.73 billion (2005 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$341.1 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 12.5% industry: 34.2% services: 53.3% (2005 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$7,900 (2005 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

5.2% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 7.9% highest 10%: 34.3% (2004)

Imports [time series]

$18 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity

Imports - partners [time series]

US 28.5%, Mexico 8.3%, China 7.6%, Brazil 6.5%, Venezuela 5.7% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.7% (2005 est.)

Industries [time series]

textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

18.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

20.52 million (2005)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 22.7% industry: 18.7% services: 58.5% (2000 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

6.08 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

6.08 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

127.6 billion cu m (2005)

Oil - consumption [time series]

270,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

512,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

1.492 billion bbl (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

49.2% (2005)

Public debt [time series]

49.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$14.96 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

11.8% (2005 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,138,910 sq km land: 1,038,700 sq km water: 100,210 sq km note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Climate [time series]

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Coastline [time series]

3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

4 00 N, 72 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

Irrigated land [time series]

9,000 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 6,004 km border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2.01% permanent crops: 1.37% other: 96.62% (2005)

Location [time series]

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards [time series]

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Capital [time series]

name: Bogota geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

5 July 1991

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia local long form: Republica de Colombia local short form: Colombia

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador William B. WOOD embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811 FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Carolina BARCO Isakson chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338 FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002) cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant parties - the PL and PSC - and independents elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010) election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez reelected president; percent of vote - Alvaro URIBE Velez 62%, Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz 22%, Horacio SERPA Uribe 12%, other 4%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Government type [time series]

republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Independence [time series]

20 July 1810 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

BCIE, CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law; judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highest court of administrative law; judges are selected from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council (administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolves jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)

Legal system [time series]

based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted into law in 2004 and is gradually being implemented; judicial review of executive and legislative acts

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010); House of Representatives - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSUN 20, PC 18, PL 17, CR 15, PDI 11, other parties 21; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 36, PSUN 30, PC 29, CR 20, PDA 42, other parties 42

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Clandestine Communist Party of Colombia or PCC [Jaime CAICEDO]; Colombian Conservative Party or PC [Carlos HOLGUIN Sardi]; Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Samuel MORENO Rojas]; Liberal Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA]; Social National Unity Party or PSUN [Juan Manuel SANTOS] note: Colombia has about 60 formally recognized political parties, most of which do not have a presence in either house of Congress

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National Liberation Army or ELN; largest illegal paramilitary group, a roughly organized umbrella group of disparate paramilitary forces, is United Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups and illegal paramilitary groups - both heavily funded by the drug trade - escalated during the 1990s. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, and violence has been decreasing since about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence. Paramilitary groups challenge the insurgents for control of territory and the drug trade. Most paramilitary members have demobilized since 2002 in an ongoing peace process, although their commitment to ceasing illicit activity is unclear. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its municipalities. However, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 10,212,456 females age 18-49: 10,561,562 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 6,986,228 females age 18-49: 8,794,465 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 389,735 females age 18-49: 383,146 (2005 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes naval aviation, marines, and coast guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana) (2006)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

3.4% (FY01)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 30.3% (male 6,683,079/female 6,528,563) 15-64 years: 64.5% (male 13,689,384/female 14,416,439) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 996,022/female 1,279,548) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

20.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

3,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

190,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 20.35 deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.25 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.99 years male: 68.15 years female: 75.96 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.5% male: 92.4% female: 92.6% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 26.3 years male: 25.4 years female: 27.2 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

43,593,035 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.46% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.54 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundary involving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and paramilitary activities penetrate all of its neighbors' borders and have created a serious refugee crisis with over 300,000 persons having fled the country, mostly into neighboring states

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 2004 was 114,100 hectares, virtually unchanged from 2003, but down one-third from its peak of 169,800 ha); producing a potential of 430 mt of pure cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplying most of the US market and the great majority of cocaine to other international drug markets; important supplier of heroin to the US market; opium poppy cultivation fell 50% between 2003 and 2004 to 2,100 hectares yielding a potential 3.8 metric tons of pure heroin, mostly for the US market; in 2004, aerial eradication treated over 130,000 hectares of coca but aggressive replanting on the part of growers means Colombia remains a key producer; a significant portion of non-US narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso exchange

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

IDPs: 2,900,000 - 3,400,000 (conflict between government and FARC; drug wars) (2004)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

984 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 101 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 38 914 to 1,523 m: 40 under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 883 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 35 914 to 1,523 m: 275 under 914 m: 572 (2006)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2006)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 17 ships (1000 GRT or over) 42,413 GRT/58,737 DWT by type: cargo 13, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 3 registered in other countries: 7 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Panama 5) (2006)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 4,360 km; oil 6,140 km; refined products 3,158 km (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Muelles El Bosque, Puerto Bolivar, Santa Marta, Turbo

Railways [time series]

total: 3,304 km standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)

Roadways [time series]

total: 110,000 km paved: 26,000 km unpaved: 84,000 km (2000)

Waterways [time series]

18,000 km (2005)